The shoulder— the most flexible joint of all the joints—is made up of three bones that function together, allowing you to perform many complex movements, activities, and sports. However, because they are so flexible, the shoulders are also unstable and prone to injury. If the joints or the complex web of tendons, ligaments, and muscles that connect and support them are damaged, it can cause significant pain. This damage can be due to many things, such as overuse, the normal degeneration that happens with aging, an injury, repetitive actions while working, such as house painting, or during sports, such as playing tennis.

When to Visit a Shoulder Doctor Near You

You should contact a neck doctor if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

Difficulty raising your shoulder or arm

Grinding sensation when moving shoulder

Limited range of motion

Pain that radiates from the shoulder down the arm

Shoulder tenderness

Stiff shoulder joint

If any of these symptoms are familiar to you, you should make an appointment to see a shoulder specialist. At Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, our shoulder experts offer treatments for problems that range from nonsurgical procedures to minimally invasive surgery.

Common orthopaedic conditions and injuries our doctors and surgeons can diagnose and treat include:

Arthritis

Bursitis

Cartilage injuries

Clavicle or scapula fractures

Compressed nerves

Frozen shoulder

Labral tears

Osteoarthritis

Rotator cuff injuries

Shoulder dislocation

Shoulder impingement syndrome

Shoulder separation

Strain or sprain

Tendonitis (medically referred to as tendinitis)

Torn tendon

If your shoulder injury or condition is too painful and needs to be treated promptly, visit our walk-in Rapid Orthopaedic Care clinic for acute injuries every day of the week, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

Choosing the right doctor is important, and there are many different factors you should consider, including their level of professional training and expertise.

At Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, our shoulder doctors have had additional training in a specific area of the body or medical specialty. For some, this additional training is referred to as fellowship training. Following their medical residencies, several of our providers have undergone fellowship training focusing their education specifically on the advanced knowledge and skills needed to treat specific areas of the body or injuries and conditions relating to a specific medical specialty, such as the shoulder and shoulder surgery. At Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, you are in excellent hands because our shoulder experts, Dr. Bradley Christ, Dr. Dominic Femiano, Dr. Tracy Hamblin, Dr. Thomas Helpenstell, Dr. R. Trent McKay, Dr. William Peterson, Dr. Ryan E. Will, Dr. P. Brodie Wood, and Dr. Jerome Zechmann, are specialty-trained and have the advanced knowledge and skills to treat your shoulder injury or condition individually to meet your needs.

You can learn more about the conditions we treat through our patient education resources or our Online Guide to Sports Medicine that references specific topics relating to nutrition and fitness for athletes of all ages, including high school students, collegians, weekend warriors, and professional athletes.

Shoulder Wellness Tips

Staying active, being proactive, and building healthy habits are key to preventing, reducing, or avoiding future joint pain. Here are some techniques you can use to help protect your shoulder joints.

Watch Your Positioning: Be aware of how your shoulder is positioned when doing common daily activities, such as driving, talking on the phone, or using a computer. If you find you are holding your shoulder in an awkward position, reposition yourself so there is less strain on your shoulder.

Release Tension: It’s common for many people to hold tension in their shoulders and upper back without even realizing it. Be aware if this is also true for you. If so, set reminders to yourself to stop, take a deep breath, and relax your shoulders.

Avoid Tug-of-War With Pets: A common game pet owners enjoy is playing tug-of-war with their dog or a pet using a sock or toy. While it may seem like harmless fun, an unexpected rough tug from a pet could cause you pain or shoulder injury, so avoid this activity. Playing fetch can also cause shoulder pain, as you repeatedly throw a ball to your pet. Find new games to enjoy with your pet that won’t put you at risk.